BC-NH--New Hampshire News Digest, NH

The breaking news staffer for Northern New England can be reached in Concord, N.H., at (603) 224-3327. For technical problems, please call (800) 882-1408.

To reach the photo department, call 617-357-8106. AP stories, along with the photos that accompany them, can also be obtained from http://www.apexchange.com. Reruns also are available from customer support at 877-836-9477.

HEPATITIS C OUTBREAK

CONCORD, N.H. — A Boston lawyer says he is working on a settlement with the staffing agency that sent David Kwiatkowski (kwiht-KOW'-skee) to New Hampshire, where the traveling hospital technician is accused of infecting patients with hepatitis C. Dominic Paolini sued Nebraska-based Triage Staffing for negligence in July, shortly after Kwiatkowski's arrest. He told The Associated Press on Monday that the case is being dismissed and he is meeting with the agency's lawyers next month to negotiate a settlement instead. By Holly Ramer.

NH ABORTION

CONCORD, N.H. — In a largely symbolic move, New Hampshire is adding to its books Jan. 1 its second law limiting abortion — the state's only such law affecting adults — a ban on partial-birth abortions. It is the only survivor of five major abortion-related bills acted on by the outgoing House and Senate, where Republicans enjoyed supermajorities. By Norma Love.

SNOWMOBILING SEASON

MONTPELIER, Vt. — At the Lakefront Express Mart in Island Pond, Vt., owner Bob Dexter says he's hopeful about a winter of good snow, good snowmobiling and strong business. Many of northern New England's rural communities depend on snowmobilers to keep stores, restaurants, motels and gas stations going strong, and they've seen a sudden increase in traffic thanks to the snows of recent days.

ODD NEW ENGLAND

BOSTON — It was a year when a bear vacationed on Cape Cod, a third-grader dodged jury duty, and police briefly pursued a monster in Boston. Weird news grabbed lots of headlines in New England in 2012. By Bridget Murphy.

ALSO GETTING ATTENTION

— MOUNTAIN RESCUE — New Hampshire conservation officers and other rescue crews are searching for a Quebec man and a hiking companion who may be lost on Mount Lafayette in Franconia.

— HOUSE-SEATING — New Hampshire House Speaker Terie Norelli is shaking up the traditional seating arrangement in the chamber to promote bipartisanship.

— FIRST NIGHT-NH — New Hampshire communities are preparing to usher in the New Year with fireworks, parades and other First Night festivities. Portsmouth and Wolfeboro will both offer indoor and outdoor activities and entertainment.

— SWANZEY ROBBERY — Police in New Hampshire are looking for a suspect who wielded a knife and a gun during a robbery in Swanzey.

— GAS PRICES — Gas prices are up in New Hampshire. The website gasbuddy.com says the average retail price for a gallon of regular gas rose 3.5 cents per gallon in the past week, to an average $3.38 a gallon.

— PEASE EXPANSION — Officials at New Hampshire's Pease International Tradeport in Portsmouth say 2013 looks like it's going to be a banner year.

— HIGHWAY DEATHS — The head of New Hampshire's highway safety agency says a warm spell back in March contributed to an increase in traffic fatalities this year.